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Re: [RC] novice class, LD taken seriously etc. - Dabney Finch

Barbara's right.
 
On 50's, 35 miles (in 100s,  around 80) is where the horse's level of conditioning (and, IMO, his characer) become factors.
 
Also, as the distance ridden increases, the rider's knowledge and skill become increasingly important.  
 
(IMHO, that's why endurance, unlike the track, isn't only a wealthy person's sport.)
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005 3:18 PM
Subject: Re: [RC] novice class, LD taken seriously etc.

FINALLY, someone else who recognizes the same thing I've been saying for years.  I KNOW that most horses in good health can do 25 miles in 6 hours, because that's what I did on my first 50 (which I did not complete) with a totally unconditioned horse (not an Arab, either.)  I knew nothing about endurance, didn't know about conditioning, didn't know how to pace, didn't know much of anything.  But I kept plugging along and did finish 25 miles within 6 hours.  It was the next 20 that took their toll.  I felt humiliated because of my failure to complete, but it was the salvation of the horse.  How utterly ignorant I was about the sport.  How much different it would have been if we had LD rides then on which to learn..... and mentors.  But.....to get back to my point, a rider CAN do 25 miles on a horse that is not properly conditioned, or not conditioned at all.  Sometimes the breaking point is as much as 35 miles, and the last 15 are the make or break miles.  We had a running QH that was like that.  He could finish first on a 35 miler, but after that, he was done.  On a talented, athletic horse, 25-30 miles are just a day's pleasure ride.
I am NOT belittling people who want to ride LD, nor am I belittling those who cannot ride more than 25-30 miles, all I am saying is that extra 15-20 miles is what separates the pleasure ride from the endurance ride.
 
Barbara
 
 
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005 9:06 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] novice class, LD taken seriously etc.

 
First off:  Should AERC lump all distances into the Endurance category???
 
NO.  Reason being, that IMO....this takes away from or lessens what the people out there doing the longer distances are doing with their horses.  A good rider can go out and take a horse of any breed with little to no condition and "get him thru an LD ride".  No, he won't be up in the front, but does that make him an "endurance" horse?  Does it make him a great athlete?  No, it makes him a horse that with some legging up and a sensible rider that can finish that shorter distance. I see this all the time at the local horse trails... trail riders out there riding 25 miles of technical tr! ails on their pleasure horses. And when they see us conditioning, they "think" that we aren't doing anything that their horses couldn't do.  The truth is...we are doing something that they can't do.  They couldn't take their horses (at the current conditioning) and do a 50 or better mile ride.  So, if lumping it all together makes everyone have a "happy face"...it won't be anything to brag about IMO.
 

Replies
Re: [RC] novice class, LD taken seriously etc., Jody Rogers-Buttram
Re: [RC] novice class, LD taken seriously etc., Barbara McCrary